With so many pianos players out there and an equally large number of ways to learn the piano, it is no surprise that a new piano model comes out every now and then. Each new model boasts more features, better sound, and of course, more class.
One such piano is the DP6 digital piano, having the same speaker, mic, table and more. So, what makes it different? What makes us review the DP6 Digital Piano today?
Many would argue that there is no way a compact keyboard or tabletop piano such as the DP-6 can compare to a full-sized keyboard. This is exactly why we are reviewing this piano today, as it claims to be able to compete in the big leagues with some of the most expensive pianos out there (the Steinway D-274).
But before we get into our DP6 digital piano review, we’d like to discuss what a digital piano is for our readers who’re just starting out in the world of piano.
Digital piano is an alternative to traditional acoustic pianos, much like the electric guitar is to acoustic guitars. However, where electric guitars also sound different, digital pianos sound exactly like their ancestors. There have been numerous concerts where digital pianos have been used instead of acoustic versions.
Where acoustic pianos use strings and a hammer to produce sound, digital pianos use electrical signals to mimic the same sound. One of the primary reasons people prefer these modern electronic versions of the musical instrument is that you get to enjoy these pianos even when everyone’s asleep.
Since the sound is completely digital, the sound can be manipulated to emanate from the headphone jack instead of speakers. While this feature isn’t as useful in orchestras, it has found extensive use in recording music for movies, games or just music.
Unlike acoustic pianos, recording sound from a digital piano means that there is no ambient sound; it’s just the sweet melody of the piano. Digital pianos now also come in different shapes, some looking just like acoustic pianos, both grand or upright styles.
Learning to play the digital piano is just the same as learning to play an acoustic piano, but some have complained that acoustic piano keys are harder. In our experience, that is just a matter of the quality of acoustic piano.
If you’re looking to learn the piano quickly, be it digital or acoustic, we recommend you look for a teacher that has had experience on both.
The DP6 Digital Piano by Gear4Music is one of the best mid-price pianos that you can buy. Despite being under the $500 (£400) mark, it offers all the features you would find in a more expensive piano.
The piano has 88 weighted keys with 64 polyphony features, i.e. 64 buttons that you can play together. This gives you almost unlimited freedom to play almost any melody out there with ease.
There is no discernable difference between its sound when compared to an acoustic piano. It is only when you bring out rather high-end audio equipment to analyze the sound that you can find minute differences.
When compared to other pianos within the same price range, the DP-6 boasts superior speaker power and sound quality. With the purchase, you also get a high-quality headphone set that, while not the best to listen to traditional music on, compliments the sound of the piano excellently.
The design of the DP-6 is rather elegant and comes in both, black and white colors. The keys are weighted to give you that ‘grand piano’ feel, while the stool that comes along with it is comfortable and gives that premium feel you would expect.
In terms of color, customers have found black to be the better choice. The pearl white is more elegant, yes, but the shiny white doesn’t remain shiny for long, especially around the adjustment knobs and buttons.
Since the piano is digital, there is no need to spend hours or pay a professional to tune or retune your piano. You can reset all settings with the click of a button, and make adjustments as you’d like by doing the same.
Thanks to the weighted hammer action keyboard style, we found that we didn’t get tired even after extensive use – something that we cannot say for most pianos in the same price range.
While the music sheet platform is nice and centered, people have often complained that it is ‘unnecessarily large.’ While there is a lot of space on the sides for those of you who enjoy a good cup of coffee while playing, we also found that it gets in the way. It’s rather inconvenient, since it doesn’t cover all the keys when put down, yet is too broad for even the biggest music sheets.
But at the price range, that is not something to complain about considering that you get the sound and feel of a grand piano at a fraction of the cost. If you’re looking to invest in a quality piece of piano hardware without breaking your bank, the DP-6 can be the perfect choice for you. Setting the piano up is simple; just plug in the power cord, press the power button on the left, and start playing!
Playing on any piano different to yours can be a bit difficult. As you continue practicing, the notes start playing unconsciously as you commit each sound to muscle memory. For that, you need to make sure you’ve bought the right piano.
If you’re looking to learn the ropes of your digital piano, Piano for All can help you understand the ins and outs through a time table that is most convenient for you. If you’ve found our DP6 Digital Piano review helpful, let us know down in the comments! We’d love to know your thoughts on the piano as well.
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